Teacher Interview Questions

If you enjoy teaching, becoming a professional teacher can be a rewarding career. And if you want to be one, you’ll need to get a job. However, to land a teaching position, you may need to answer these teacher interview questions.

Job interviews are notoriously stressful, especially if you have little or no experience answering interview questions for teachers.

This guide presents you with teacher interview questions and answers to inform and prepare you for your dream teaching job. But first, learn how to prepare for a teaching interview.

How To Get Ready For A Teaching Job Interview

Before the interview, do some research on the organization, the job requirements, and the job elements.

The more you know about the organization in question, the more confident and precise your responses to interview questions will be.

It would be best to practice with examples of interview questions for teachers and their responses from blog posts, publications, and articles like this one.

Now that you’ve learned how to prepare for a teaching interview, here are some common teacher interview questions and answers to memorize before meeting with the interviewer.

Read Also: How to follow up after a job interview [Complete Guide]

Common Teacher Interview Questions And Answers

Here are some teacher interview questions and answers that you can practice before attending a teacher’s interview.

1. Why did you decide to become a teacher?

This question is a little more personal. The interviewer wants to know why you chose to be a teacher.

A perfect answer may not get you the job, but it will increase your chances of being hired by the company.

Answers 

• I chose this profession because I am very interested in it. That, I believe, is my goal. Learners are individuals who, to become productive members of society, must be shaped by the hands of a teacher.

• The lecturers at the college I attended left an indelible impression on me, inspiring me to pursue a career as a teacher. Their teaching methods, physical presence, and ability to counsel students influenced me to become a teacher myself.

Read Also: Things you should never do during and after a job interview

2. Do you have any teaching experience?

The interviewer wants you to give examples of jobs you’ve held similar to those you’re applying for at their company. In addition, the interviewer wants to know if you have a thorough understanding of the job description.

Answer

An excellent response to this question is to list duties and assignments from previous employment and previous job experiences relevant to the job description you are being interviewed.

3. What can you tell us about yourself?

During a job interview, it is sometimes the first question asked. The interviewer asks this question to determine some behavioural traits or character qualities that make you suitable for the job at hand.

Your response should not be an attempt to impress the interviewer with your personality but rather an introduction to who you are as a professional.

Your response should summarise the qualities that make you a good fit for the job, previous experiences, proven job successes relevant to the job, and personality highlights.

Answer

• I began my career as a personal assistant to a school administrator, and after a few months of working for her, I was drawn to teaching.

• I’ve always been good at communicating with others and educating them on various topics. I’ve also spent the last five years establishing a career as a qualified educator.

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4. What is your educational background?

The interviewer asks this question to determine your academic qualifications for the job you are being interviewed for.

Answer

The best answer is to summarise and detail all academic qualifications and experience.

5. What qualifications do you have to become a teacher in our school?

The interviewer asks this question to assess your ability to defend your experience and mastery of the teaching profession; you must protect yourself accordingly.

In response, please explain why you are the best candidate for their establishment.

Answer

• I believe I am a good fit for this position in your organisation because of my experience and academic qualifications as a teacher and a goal-oriented person.

• I’m always motivated by delivering the best results for employers while adhering to their policies and philosophy.

Read Also: 10 etiquette mistakes to avoid in job interviews

6. Why have you chosen to teach at our school?

When you have done adequate research on the establishment before the interview, answering this teacher interview question will be simple.

Aside from the obvious reasons, such as a job opportunity and a good salary, the interviewer wants to know why you chose to work for them.

Answer

• I chose this establishment because I enjoy the opportunity to work with an organisation or establishment whose goals align with mine.

• I want to use my skills and expertise to increase output and carry out tasks that contribute to achieving goals shared by myself and the school.

Read Also: Answering the big question, Why should we hire you.

7. Why do you believe you’d be a good fit for this teaching position?

This teacher interview question also asks you to tell the interviewer more about yourself.

Answers

• I believe I am qualified to assist the school in meeting its educational objectives. I see myself as a person who is eager to take on new challenges, solve problems, and achieve the goals set by this organisation.

• Always I place a high value on constantly discovering, learning, and improving myself as a teacher because I am committed to the teaching responsibilities as a whole, not just this job.

8. What do you think distinguishes you as a teacher?

This question is designed to get you to tell the individual more about yourself, so try to sell yourself as much as possible when answering it.

Answer

• I’ve had a strong desire to learn and improve myself since I was a teenager. If I use the right tools and strategies, students will pick up on my thirst for knowledge and self-improvement and incorporate these values into their own lives now and in the future.

9. What is your teaching philosophy or style, in your opinion?

This is one of the most common interview questions for teachers. The interviewer asks it to determine if a teacher’s teaching style or philosophy complements the school’s philosophy and goals.

If you don’t know what your teaching style or philosophy is, try memorising quotes or sample responses to the question “what is your teaching style or philosophy?”

Answers

• My teaching style is very adaptable. As a seasoned educator, I adapt my teaching style as needed.

• Every learner is an individual, and everyone learns in their way. Therefore, my teaching philosophy is to do my best to provide learners with knowledge and skills, regardless of their unique learning style.

10. How would you deal with challenging students?

This is one of the most common interview questions for teachers.

Answers

• To curb the bad behaviour of difficult students, I must use school-approved disciplinary methods.

• I’ll need to establish effective communication and understanding between us.

11. How would you accurately determine learners?

Answers

• There are various methods for evaluating students, but I prefer to use any procedures and processes that the school has provided for teachers as a guide.

• Constant observation is a highly effective method of evaluating students; through informal observation, I will gain insight into their participation and progress.

12. How would you handle classroom instruction?

The interviewer asks this question to determine factors such as classroom control, disciplinary methods, teaching style, and so on that the interviewee possesses.

Answers

• First and foremost, I need to understand the school’s policy and guidelines for disciplinary procedures to implement properly.

• Making available to students, parents, and other stakeholders a comprehensive list of rules and regulations governing classroom activities and disciplinary actions if they are broken.

• I believe that being positive and fair will encourage students to be disciplined.

13. As a teacher, how adaptable are you?

Because flexibility is an important quality that interviews may look for in the interviewee, it is best to respond that you are flexible as a teacher most of the time.

Answer

• As an experienced educator, I believe in adaptability. Every learner comprehends an academic topic or subject at a different level, so I must be adaptable to cater to all learners in a classroom.

14. What are your teaching strengths?

Answers

• I believe my strengths as a teacher are in my ability to relate to students personally. As a teacher, my communication skills and interpersonal relationships have enabled me to teach various subjects to students efficiently.

• As an experienced teacher, one of my greatest strengths is the confidence and calm with which I teach a wide range of topics, subjects, and disciplines.

15. What are your flaws as a teacher?

It is not a good idea to tell the interviewer about flaws that will cost you the job. Instead, try to compliment yourself indirectly by highlighting your weaknesses.

Answer

• When attempting to mentor my students, one of my shortcomings as a teacher is that I become too acquainted with them and become too close.

16. How will you motivate your students to learn?

Since your job is to teach the students, this raises concerns about your ability to do your job effectively.

Answer

• By ensuring a well-developed, positive Learning Environment that encourages students to want to learn.
• By organizing exciting and engaging class lessons.

• I’m better because I create a reward system that includes giving small awards, praise, or gifts to students for exemplary behaviour to motivate them and others.

17. What do you enjoy most about teaching?

What the interviewer wants to know is what aspects of teaching appeal to you.

Answers

• Interacting with brilliant and interested students is an example of an answer. My interactions with young people broaden our range of knowledge, understanding, skills, and philosophy as I learn from their ideas and experiences.

• What I enjoy most about teaching is seeing my students put the theories and skills that I have taught them into practice.

18. What do you expect to be paid?

Answering this type of question requires caution because it is pretty tricky; it can turn a smooth interview into an awkward one in a matter of seconds simply by overstating salary rates.

Incorrectly stating your salary expectations can cost you a job offer.

You’re probably wondering why some employers ask this question during an interview in the first place.

Even though there are general market values for certain positions, some companies place a higher and some lower value. This means that the average rate could be lower or higher than the salary they expect to pay for a specific job position.

Answers

• I’m more interested in finding a job that matches my skills and interests. I’m confident that you’re offering a competitive salary in the current market.

• Based on my research and previous experience, 85-90K per term is the norm.

19. What do you hope to achieve in the next five years?

This question is used to determine whether or not an individual has personal plans for the job or career in question. In addition, it will determine if you are ambitious and willing to work hard to achieve set goals within a specific time frame.

Answer

I see myself in a better mental, physical, and professional position in the next five years.

20. Do you have any further questions?

This is the last question asked during an interview.

Most people believe that this question is unimportant; thus, the typical response is that they have no questions.

This is a critical question, and your interviewer will ask it to determine how prepared and curious you are to solve problems related to the job description.

So, to do well, you should respond to your interviewer with some sensible and relevant questions, which include:

• Your long-term and short-term objectives?
• What extra responsibilities do teachers have outside of teaching at this school?
• What is the philosophy of the school?
• How do you gauge a teacher’s success?
• What types of staff development are available?
• Are there any opportunities?
• What is the school’s stance on discipline?
• What is the average size of a classroom?
• How are the other teachers?
• What is the relationship between the school and the parents like?
• Do you have a thriving Parent-Teacher Association?

How To Answer Teacher Interview Questions

Because your body language communicates as much as your words, you must have the appropriate body language when responding to the question.

Furthermore, because this question necessitates some thought and reflection, it may be difficult to come up with an excellent answer right away. So, to prepare your answer, take a few moments to think about the successful jobs and related experiences you’ve had in the past.

The interviewer will pay close attention to your response and how it relates to your suitability for the position. As a result, make sure your response is relevant to the aspects of the job you’re applying for.

It would help if you also were as truthful as possible. You must ensure that your responses remain true to who you are. Furthermore, some interviewers are psychoanalysts who can detect deception, so lying will almost certainly cost you the job.

Aside from that, be positive and show how interested and enthusiastic you are to be considered for the company as your response. Include in your answer how the job description will align with your interests.

When responding to these questions, a brief and comprehensive response is always preferable. But, of course, with the right combination of short answers and prior job-related experience.

FAQs

Finally

Interviewers are more likely to hire someone who presents himself well than someone who has many certifications.

You can practice with the common teacher interview questions and answers listed above. Remember to give examples as well as to share stories that are relevant to the job you are interviewing for.

This article should have given you some ideas for interview questions and answers for a successful job interview.